Automated tissue engineering system

Abstract

The invention provides systems, modules, bioreactor and methods for the automated culture, proliferation, differentiation, production and maintenance of tissue engineered products. In one aspect is an automated tissue engineering system comprising a housing, at least one bioreactor supported by the housing, the bioreactor facilitating physiological cellular functions and/or the generation of one or more tissue constructs from cell and/or tissue sources. A fluid containment system is supported by the housing and is in fluid communication with the bioreactor. One or more sensors are associated with one or more of the housing, bioreactor or fluid containment system for monitoring parameters related to the physiological cellular functions and/or generation of tissue constructs; and a microprocessor linked to one or more of the sensors. The systems, methods and products of the invention find use in various clinical and laboratory settings.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An automated method for cell culture and/or tissue engineering, including primary or precursor cells, the method comprising:
 a. loading primary or precursor cells within a bioreactor in fluid communication with a media reservoir and flow system, said bioreactor having one or more sensors to detect physiological conditions and parameters of the cell culture and/or tissue engineering process within said bioreactor for active monitoring and active adjustment during the cell culture and/or tissue engineering process by a microprocessor; 
 b. seeding the cells onto a proliferation substrate or scaffold supported within the bioreactor; 
 c. proliferating and/or differentiating the cells within the bioreactor; and, 
 d. actively monitoring and automatically adjusting during the proliferating and/or differentiating, via the microprocessor, the parameters of the cell culture and/or tissue engineering process to provide suitable culturing conditions within said bioreactor for a sufficient period of time to obtain the desired cells and/or tissue. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the parameters of the cell culture and/or tissue engineering process are selected from the group consisting of temperature, pH, dissolved gases selected from oxygen and carbon dioxide, metabolic turnover inclusive of lactic acid and glucose consumption, optical density, light scattering, and images of cell/tissue proliferation. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the automatically adjusting comprises adjusting the temperature. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the automatically adjusting comprises adjusting the pH. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the automatically adjusting comprises adjusting the level of dissolved gases selected from oxygen and carbon dioxide. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the automatically adjusting comprises adjusting the conditions related to metabolic turnover including lactic acid and/or glucose consumption.